Week 6 of the 2024 college football season doesn’t feature any games between ranked teams, but there are several compelling matchups that could be considered “trap games” for the nation’s premier squads.

Michigan State will travel to Eugene on Friday to face No. 6 Oregon to kick off the week, while Syracuse hits the road to face No. 25 UNLV in a critical game for the Runnin’ Rebels.

Last week’s featured picks went 3-1. There will be four more games to highlight this week, and we’ll also provide a list of picks for every game featuring a ranked team.

Now, here are the picks for Week 6:

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Auburn at 5 Georgia (-22.5)

The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry always seems to exceed expectations even when one team is significantly more talented than the other. Georgia has won the last seven meetings, but it’s more competitive than it looks on paper. Last season, the Bulldogs escaped with a 27-20 win in a game that they didn’t lead until the fourth quarter.

Georgia is coming off of an emotional 41-34 loss to Alabama. They stormed back in the second half, outscoring the Tide 27-11, but the comeback bid fell just short. Carson Beck threw for 439 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. The Bulldogs surrendered 117 rushing yards to Bama quarterback Jalen Milroe, which is concerning because Auburn also poses the threat of the quarterback run. Payton Thorne rushed for 92 yards in last year’s matchup, and he has 125 yards and two touchdowns on the ground so far this season.

I expect Georgia to win this game by double digits, and I don’t think Auburn’s offense can put up enough points to stay in the game. However, don’t be surprised if the Tigers keep it competitive in the first half and cover the 22.5-point spread.

Pick: Auburn +22.5

1 Alabama (-22.5) at Vanderbilt

Will Alabama have a hangover from their 41-34 home victory over No. 2 Georgia? We’re about to find out.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe is among the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy through four games. He was turnover-prone in 2023, but that doesn’t seem to be the case this season. So far, he has thrown for 10 touchdowns and just one interception, while adding eight scores with his legs. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams has also burst onto the scene for the Tide, as the 17-year-old has already totaled 462 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Alabama has earned the right to be the top-ranked team in the nation, but Vanderbilt is much improved from years past and will provide a tougher test than many people anticipate. The Commodores nearly took down No. 9 Missouri on the road in Week 4, and they’ve been on bye while Alabama has been dealing with Georgia. The addition of quarterback Diego Pavia has enhanced Vanderbilt’s offense, and they’ve put up at least 27 points in every game this season.

I expect Vanderbilt to score some points, but it won’t be enough to keep pace with Alabama’s lethal offense.

Pick: Alabama -22.5

Iowa at 3 Ohio State (-18)

These two teams last met in 2022, where Ohio State won 54-10. The Hawkeyes haven’t won in Columbus since 1991, but they have been known for pulling off upsets against top ten teams.

A healthy Cade McNamara has greatly helped Iowa’s offense. They’re averaging 32 points per game compared to just 16.6 in 2023. The defense isn’t quite as good after losing key pieces such as Cooper DeJean, but they’re still above average. Running back Kaleb Johnson has also been a bright spot, leading the nation with 685 yards rushing and nine touchdowns in four games.

Ohio State may be the most talented team in the nation, and their one-two-punch of Quinshon Judkins and Treveyon Henderson is at running back is lethal. The pair have accounted for 666 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Quarterback Will Howard is spoiled with a wide receiver group that includes stars Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.

Iowa hasn’t faced anything remotely close to this Buckeye team yet this season. If the game were at Kinnick, it might be a different story, but I think Ohio State cruises in this matchup.

Pick: Ohio State -18

10 Michigan (+1.5) at Washington

It’s surprising to see the Wolverines as underdogs in this game, even though they’re a one-dimensional team with Alex Orji under center. After losing to Texas, Michigan has won three straight games, including a thriller against No. 11 USC. However, the three wins have come by a combined 16 points, and they have only thrown for a total of 252 yards in those three games.

Do they really need to throw against Washington, though? I don’t think they do. The Huskies were carved up by Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai last week, as he rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. They also gave up 136 rushing yards and two scores in their Week 3 loss to rival Washington State.

Michigan’s inability to throw the ball will come back to haunt them at some point this season, but it won’t be this week. Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards should have plenty of room to run. Give me the Wolverines in this title rematch.

Pick: Michigan +1.5

Other Notable Games

Michigan State at 6 Oregon (-23)

Pick: Oregon -23

Syracuse at 25 UNLV (-6)

Pick: UNLV -6

9 Missouri (+2.5) at Texas A&M

Pick: Missouri +2.5

SMU at 22 Louisville (-6.5)

Pick: SMU +6.5

UCLA at 7 Penn State (-28.5)

Pick: Penn State -28.5

23 Indiana (-13.5) at Northwestern

Pick: Indiana -13.5

12 Ole Miss (-9) at South Carolina

Pick: Ole Miss -9

15 Clemson (-15) at Florida State

Pick: Clemson -15

Utah State at 21 Boise State (-27)

Pick: Boise State -27

Baylor at 16 Iowa State (-11.5)

Pick: Baylor +11.5

4 Tennessee (-14) at Arkansas

Pick: Arkansas +14

11 USC (-9) at Minnesota

Pick: USC -9

8 Miami (-10.5) at California

Pick: Miami -10.5